Boomerang, xray chess variants

ABSTRACT

A new device and method for playing chess called the Boomerang chess is proposed in this invention. In boomerang chess, one or more pieces have boomerang powers, which is the Ability to capture an opponent piece (which is at a target square, reachable by the striking piece in a regular chess game), and return back to the its starting square in the same move! In one variant, the range of the boomerang can be limited. For example, the boomerang range of the bishop maybe limited to 4 squares etc. Other chess variants like Xray chess, Pool chess, magnetic chess etc. are also proposed in this invention.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of Sports, games. This invention proposes an innovative playing method and new chess pieces and rules for chess, which makes the game more un-predictable and interesting.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Precursors and variations of the game of chess have been played for over 1000 years. Examples of some relatively recent variations include four-player chess as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,666, and those which introduce non-conventional pieces with specialized functions, such as the games described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,434,806 B2, U.S. Pat. No. 9,694,289B2. Many other variants are described at Chess Variants website www.chess variants.org. What is needed is a chess variant which introduces further aspects of fun and game play strategy over the prior art, which makes the game more interesting and fun for the players.

Chess being an old game has rules which has become over-played and boring. Conventional chess piece moves makes the game very predictable and less interesting.

Hence there is a need to develop new rules and methods and non-conventional chess pieces with new rules of playing chess, which makes the games more interesting for players and for the viewers.

OBJECT OF INVENTION

The principal object of this invention is to develop newkits, methods and computer programs for playing a variant of the game of chess, which makes the games more interesting for the players and for the viewers.

These and other objects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating preferred embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a chess board.

FIG. 2 depicts a pool-chess board with pockets.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. For example, it should be noted that while some embodiments are explained with respect to CHESS game, any other application may also incorporate the subject matter of the invention with little or no modifications. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.

The embodiments herein describe an intelligent new rule and method of playing chess, which makes the game more interesting. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 2 , where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown embodiments.

FIG. 1 shows a conventional chess board and chess coins.

A new method playing chess called the Boomerang chess is proposed in this invention.

In boomerang chess, one or more pieces have boomerang powers. Ie. Ability to strike an opponent piece2 b (which is at a target square2, reachable by the striking piece piece1 b in a regular chess game), and return back to the same starting square1 in the same move! Such pieces are called with a prefix Boomerang. Ie: BoomerangQueen, BoomerangRook, BoomerangBishop, BoomerangHorse, BoomerangKing, BoomerangPawn etc. Together, these non-conventional pieces are called Boomerang-pieces 202.

In one variant, the range of the boomerang can be limited. For example, the boomerang range of the bishop maybe limited to 4 squares etc.

Any other chess variants like anti-chess, horde etc. can also use the boomerang piece option.

An automatic method, which allows 2 players to play a game of boomerang chess, as per boomerang chess rules, over the internet or LAN or any other remote playing methods.

A new method playing chess called the X-RAY chess is proposed in this invention.

In X-RAY chess, one or more pieces have X-RAY powers. Ie. Ability of a Xray piece piece1 x at square1 to reach a target square3 (which is reachable by the piece in a regular chess game), by jumping through a piece2 x at square2, which may be blocking the path to reach square3. Such pieces are called with a prefix Xray. Ie: XrayQueen, XrayRook, XrayBishop etc. Together, these non-conventional pieces are called Xray pieces 302.

Referring to FIG. 1 , the queen at d1 usually cant move. But with X-ray power, it can jump over the d2 pawn and can either capture d7 pawn or occupy any square from d3 to d6. But it can't reach the d8 square, as it has single level X-ray power.

In another variation, X-ray power can have single or multiple level X-ray power.

For example, with double level X-ray power, the d1 queen can jump over both d2 & d7 pawns and reach the d8 square and capture the piece at d8 square.

In one embodiment, the X-ray power may be limited to self or opponent piece.

X-ray power can be combined with other powers like Boomerang power, castling power etc.

X-ray power can also be used in other chess variants like Anti-chess, Horde etc.

An automatic method, which allows 2 players to play a game of X-ray chess, as per X-ray chess rules, over the internet or LAN or any other remote playing methods.

A new method playing chess called the BOUNCY-CHESS is proposed in this invention.

In Bouncy chess, the border walls of the chess boards are bouncy. For example, a queen at d1 can normally reach up to a4 square and stop. But with bouncy walls, it can also reach one of the squares b5, c6, d7, e8!

In multi-bouncy chess option, even the squares f7, g6, h5 are reachable by the d1 queen. Or even g4, f3, e2 squares.

Typically bishop and queen can take advantage of the bouncy walls.

Bouncy wall feature can be combined with other powers like boomerang power, X-ray power etc.

Bouncy wall feature can also be used for other chess variants like anti-chess, horde etc.

In another embodiment, the chess pieces have magnetic power along edges of adjacent squares. The magnet can be permanent magnet or electro magnet, which can be switched on or off at player discretion. Such pieces are called magnetic-pieces 402.

For example when pawn at e2 moves to e4, the pawns at d2 and f2 also move to d4 and f4 respectively. However if there was some blocking piece at say d4, then d2 pawn will be stopped at d3, while other two pawns will reach e4 and f4 respectively.

Magnetic power can be limited to rook style, horizontal/vertical moves or can be extended to diagonal moves of bishops also.

In one embodiment, the magnet power can be limited to same color or opposite color piece only.

Magnet power can be combined with other powers like boomerang, X-ray, double X-ray, bouncy wall etc.

Magnet power can also be used in other chess variants like anti chess, horde etc.

One more variant called POOL CHESS is proposed in this invention.

In Pool Chess, opponent's pieces are not captured, but instead can be pushed around into another square (along the legal trajectory path of a piece) or in to a “pocket”.

A non-traditional chess board called POOL-chess board 101 is proposed in this invention, which has extra squares (in addition to the 64 squares of a traditional chess board) called “pockets”, similar to a pool or billiard or carrom table. Number of pockets can be 4 or 6 or 8 or any convenient number.

Conventional chess piece capture is not allowed in this variant.

In pool chess a piece has to be pushed into a pocket, for it to be removed from the board. Such non-conventional pieces are called “Pool-pieces (102)” with specific names like PoolQueen, PoolRook, PoolBishop, PoolHorse, PoolKing, PoolPawn etc.

For example, a corner pocket near h1 square is made of squares h0, i0, i1!

Say a white piece1 is at g1 and black rook1 is at e1, with f1 square being empty. Now e1 rook1 can capture g1 piece by pushing it into pocket i1. The rook1 will be placed at h1 after this capture.

A colour1 piece along the diagonal a8-h1, say at g2 can be captured by pushing it into i0 square, by another diagonally moving piece of opposite colour2 like bishop, queen etc., provided there is no obstacle between colour1 and colour2 piece and provided no obstacle between the colour1 piece at g2 and pocket i0 also.

In one embodiment, Knight can also push a piece in its path.

In pool chess, colour1 piece can move to legal squares (legal in conventional chess game) and can also push a colour2 piece along its path, to another legal reachable square or till another obstacle is met or till a pocket is reached.

For example, a colour1 piece along the diagonal a8-h1, say at f3 can be pushed by a colour2 diagonal moving piece like bishop (say at d5), to either g2 or h1 or i0 square. In one embodiment, colour2 piece will stop at f3, g2, h1 respectively. In another embodiment, the colour2 piece at d5 pushing color piece at f3, will always stop at f3, irrespective of final square reached by colour1 piece.

For example, a king can move one square, but push a piece5 at square5 into a pocket in the same direction as the movement of the king, irrespective of distance between piece5 and pocket. King will stay in the square5.

For example, a pawn can move one or two squares as in normal chess, but push a piece6 at square6 into a pocket in the same direction as the movement of the pawn, irrespective of distance between piece6 and pocket. Pawn will stay in the square6.

For example, a knight can move three squares, but push a piece7 at square7 into a pocket in the same direction as the movement of the knight, irrespective of distance between piece7 and pocket. Knight will stay in the square7.

In one embodiment the top spin can be controlled such that the striking piece can move beyond the square in which the target piece was there.

In one embodiment the back spin can be controlled such that the striking piece can move back from the square in which the target piece was there.

In one embodiment, pockets are also present at the mid walls of the board similar to a pool table.

For example, the squares i3, i4, i5, i6 are pocket squares adjacent to h4, h5. Pockets i3, i6 are reachable only by diagonal moves. Pockets i4, i5 can either be reached by horizontal moves or by diagonal moves.

The game ends when king is pushed into one of the pockets.

Thus i3, i4, i5, i6 are pocket squares near (h4, h5) squares. Similar pockets can be present near to (a4, a5) squares, (d1, e1) squares, (d8, e8) squares.

In one embodiment, side wall pockets can be limited to i3, i4, i5 around h5 square alone.

In one embodiment, the entire border (i0 to i9 etc.) on all 4 sides are pockets into which pieces can be pushed. Ie: The N+1xN+1 border squares outside the N×N active playing area are pockets. For non-square playing field, all squares outside the active playing area are pockets into which pieces can be pushed.

In one embodiment, the side walls of the pool chess are bouncy, as explained in bouncy chess.

One more variant called Qknight CHESS is proposed in this invention.

In Qknight chess, Queen can also move like a knight in addition to moving along ranks, files and diagonals!

Qknight chess power can be combined with other variants like bouncy walls, X-ray chess, Boomerang chess, Pool Chess, AntiChess, Horder etc.

An automatic method, which allows 2 players to play a game of Bouncy Chess, Magnet chess, Pool Chess, Qknight chess etc. over the internet or LAN or any other remote playing methods is proposed in this invention.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein. 

We claim: 1) A method of playing a variant chess game, in which one or more pieces have boomerang powers, which is the ability to capture an opponent piece2, which is at a target square2, reachable by the striking piece1 in a regular chess game, and return back to the same starting square1 in the same move. 2) A method of playing a variant chess game, as in claim 1, where the boomerang power is limited to a certain range or number of squares. 3) An automatic method, which allows players to play a game of boomerang chess, as per boomerang chess rules of claim 1, 2 over the internet or LAN or any other remote playing methods. 4) A method of playing a variant chess game, in which one or more pieces have X-ray powers, which is Ability of a piece1 to jump over a piece2 and reach a target square2 reachable by the striking piece1 in a conventional chess game when blocking piece2 is not present. 5) A method of playing a variant chess game, as in claim 4, where the Xray power is limited to a certain color or type of blocking pieces. 6) A method of playing a variant chess game, as in claim 4, where the Xray power is extended to multiple (Ni) layers, which allows the piece1 to jump over multiple (Ni) pieces blocking its path. 7) A method of playing a variant chess game, as in claim 4, where the Xray power is combined with other powers in other chess variants. 8) An automatic method, which allows players to play a game of Xray chess, as per Xray chess rules of claim 4, 5, 6, 7 over the internet or LAN or any other remote playing methods. 9) A method of playing a variant chess game, in which one or more pieces have magnetic powers, which is Ability to carry adjacent pieces with it as it moves. 10) A method of playing a variant chess game, in which the walls are bouncy allowing bishop and Queen to bounce off the walls and move. 11) A method of playing a variant chess game, where pieces bump and move one another like balls colliding in pool game. The board also have pockets, into which pieces must be pushed to be able to capture that piece, with corner square h1 having 3 adjacent squares i0, i1, h0 as pockets, with other corner squares a1, a8, h8 having similar pockets made of 3 adjacent squares. 12) A method of playing a variant chess game, as in claim 11, where i3, i4, i5, i6 are the pockets near the h4, h5 squares, with other border mid squares a4, a5, d1, e1, d8, e8 having similar adjacent squares as pockets. 13) A method of playing a variant pool chess game as in claim 11, where the entire N+1 xN+1 border of a N×N square playing field are pockets, into which pieces can be pushed for capture. 14) A method of playing a variant pool chess game as in claim 11, where the entire border squares beyond the playing field squares are pockets, into which pieces can be pushed for capture. 15) A method of playing a variant pool chess game as in claim 11, where the topspin can be user controlled as in pool game, such that the striking piece can move beyond the square in which the target piece was there. 16) A method of playing a variant pool chess game as in claim 11, where the backspin can be user controlled as in pool game, such that the striking piece can move back from the square in which the target piece was there. 17) An automatic method, which allows 2 or more players to play a game of Bouncy Chess, Magnet chess, Pool Chess, of claims 9, 10, 11, 12, over the internet or LAN or any other remote playing methods. 18) A method of playing a variant chess game, as in claim 1-14, where the Boomerang, Xray powers is combined with other powers in other chess variants. 